Concrete steps calculator
Enter the step dimensions and, if there is one, the depth of the landing at the top. Solid steps take more concrete than people expect.
Concrete needed
0.52 cubic yards
- 80 lb bags
- 24 bags
- 60 lb bags
- 32 bags
- Volume
- 14.1 cubic feet
- Total height
- 21 in
How it works
Solid steps are a stack of blocks. The bottom step is one rise tall, the next is two rises tall, and so on, each one tread deep. The calculator adds them up (width × run × rise × 1 + 2 + … + the number of steps) and adds a landing at full height if you enter one. It then converts to cubic feet and yards.
Example
With number of steps 3, rise per step 7 in, run (tread depth) 11 in, step width 4 ft, landing depth at top (0 if none) 0 in, extra 10%, the answer is 0.52 cubic yards.
Tips before you buy
- Keep every riser the same height. Building codes typically allow very little variation between steps.
- You can fill the core of large steps with clean rubble or gravel to save concrete, as long as the outer shell stays thick enough.
- Above about a cubic yard, ready-mix delivery usually beats mixing bags by hand.
Common questions
How much concrete for 3 steps?
For 4-foot-wide steps with a 7 inch rise and 11 inch run, about 0.48 cubic yards before extra, or 24 bags of 80 lb mix with 10% added.
How many bags of concrete for a step?
A single 4-foot-wide step 7 inches tall and 11 inches deep is about 2.1 cubic feet, roughly 4 bags of 80 lb mix.
What rise and run are best for steps?
A rise around 7 inches and a run around 11 inches is comfortable and common. Check your local code for limits.